eli5 How exactly does one “de-caffeinate” coffee? Are they actually removing the chemical?

Question

eli5 How exactly does one “de-caffeinate” coffee? Are they actually removing the chemical?

In: 548

Answer 1

Yep! One process is to soak and drain it with liquid carbon dioxide (under high pressures, carbon dioxide can be a liquid), which carries most of the caffeine away, while leaving almost all the rest of the coffee-stuff behind.

Note that decaf coffee contains *less* caffeine, not *no* caffeine. It can still keep you awake at night if you’re not accustomed to it.